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Clarkson, Thomas (1760-1846) slavery abolitionist
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Autograph letter, signed, in French, from Henri Gregoire, Bishop of Blois, to Thomas Clarkson, from Paris

Assures him of the pleasure of seeing him and his wife at their last visit to Paris, and of the effect it had for the cause. Clarkson's two letters were discussed in some papers, though in less depth than would have been desirable, and in several there was only a bare notice of them. Gregoire discusses the preponderant frivolity of the French press, though there are exceptions. Gregoire goes on to discuss the impact of censorship on the press, which has forced [? Messrs. Comte and Dunoye], editors, to cease publishing in journal form and publish instead separate volumes. He is sending by an intermediary, Captn. Scobell, 'un ami des noirs' a volume of Observations, twenty pages of which are devoted to Clarkson's works. He has received a work on the slave trade, and slavery of blacks and whites, but thinks it may not be allowed to go to press since it contains some hard truths explicitly dealt with. If so, he will send it in a manuscript. Gregoire attaches M. Egion's receipt (1), and asks for his own to be returned or destroyed. He acknowledges Clarkson sending him his work on the Quakers (2), and Mr. Foster (3), whom he has not met, sending his works on the same subject. He requests help with corrections to his own works, his Histoire des Sectes, and a new edition of his Litterature des Negres. Mr. Wilberforce has sent the second edition of the life of Toussaint Louverture, by M. Stephen (4). Gregoire intends to write to him and send him copies of the letters written to himself by 'ce general' [Toussaint]. Cambridge University which in times gone by [jadis] awarded a prize for Clarkson's work, opened a debate some years ago on the question 'what are the advantages and inconveniences which may result from the new republic of blacks and coloureds established in the West Indies?' Gregoire asks was the prize actually bestowed, and what was the result of the debate? (5) He sends his compliments to Mrs. Clarkson, Messrs Robinson, Stoddart, William Smith etc. etc.

(1) In a postscript, however, he says he cannot find it.

(2) Portraiture of Quakerism (1806).

(3) It could be the odd Baptist preacher John Foster 1770-1843 (DNB) but probably not.

(4) James Stephen 1758 - 1832. This work is not listed among his 'chief' in the DNB.

(5) The Prize is probably a garbled ref. to Clarkson's prize Essay on Slavery, 1786, but the debate?

Autograph letter, signed, in French, from Henri Gregoire, Bishop of Blois, to Thomas Clarkson, from Paris

Conveyed by their mutual friend, Mr Allen, who will supply further details. He acknowledges Clarkson's zeal in seeing to the insertion in the papers of Gregoire's letter rebutting the slanders of [?Bertrand-Molleville]; other friends have done similarly in the German papers. He has discussed the state of St. Dominique with Mr. Weatherley, who is on his way to Vienna. Ten letters written to him from St. Dominique have been mislaid, gone astray or been intercepted by various means. He has sent various parcels of educational and devotional works to St. Dominique, but doubts after his conversation with Weatherley, whether they will reach their destination. Gregoire discusses political conditions in St. Dominique at some length.

Autograph letter, signed, in French, from Jean Baptiste de Lubersac, Bishop of Chartres, to Thomas Clarkson, from Paris

Acknowledges a parcel sent by the letter. He describes the importance of the example given by Clarkson's efforts, as wielding a moral force superior to that inculcated by principles alone. He comments on the importance of the personal interests of those concerned in advancing a great cause, and the hypocrisy of a motion for the freedom of Negroes being put before the National Assembly, which is preoccupied with its own ideas of liberty.

Autograph letter, signed, in French, from Henri Gregoire, Bishop of Blois, to Thomas Clarkson, from Paris

If the recipient is in London, he will receive the letter from the hands of the Marquis (?Piresi). He is sending printed works by various deliveries. He sends a new copy of the second printed letter which he has addressed to an Elector of [?Lisere]. He has sent [?what] to Zachary Macaulay and already forwarded to Lord Calthorpe notes which attest that Senegal continues the slave trade. He has set a cry of indignation ringing in many papers, especially the Chronique Religieuse, and despite the fury of the 'marchands de sanf' (i.e. slave traders) against him, does not waver. He sends compliments to Clarkson's wife.

Autograph letter, signed, in French, from Jean Baptiste de Lubersac, Bishop of Chartres, to Thomas Clarkson, from Paris

Sent during TC's visit to France, assuring him that he is quite right not to have put himself to trouble to translate his last communication into French, since the writer has perfectly understood it, with a little help. He acknowledges on behalf of the Abbe Sieyes and himself, the two pictures which Clarkson sends, with which the writer is already familiar. (1) This design inspired Lubersac with a great hatred of the traffic in human kind as much as that traffic has degraded it. He invites Clarkson with an unnamed friend, to a modest dinner next Monday at 4 p.m. (1) The picture was evidently the slave ship picture which Clarkson circulated in profusion in Paris and from which Mirabeau had a model made for his dining room table (See Clarkson Biography, pp. 57-8).

Autograph letter, signed, from B. Godwin (a Baptist minister) and W. Maude to Thomas Clarkson, from Bradford

Mr. Godwin states that he is interested in promoting the anti-slavery cause through a series of lectures. States that the best course of action is for Parliament to set a date for abolition and to make arrangements for that date to be met. Hopes Clarkson can help him either with written information or by sending recent publications. Maude introduces Godwin to Clarkson and states he is of good conscientious character and has been working hard to promote the anti slavery cause in Yorkshire which is growing stronger, especially amongst women.

Autograph letter, signed, to Thomas Clarkson, from W. Scoble, from New Broad Street

Discusses a letter sent by Clarkson to be read at the next public meeting of the Anti Slavery Society. Proposes changes regarding the 10 articles of the Washington Treaty, especially those regarding the trial of fugitives from the Indies. Also points out inaccuracies regarding fugitives from Florida and asks that points regarding slave-grown produce be printed in the next copy of the 'Reporter'.

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